“The Redeeming Face of Motherhood”: 15 Abortions in 16 Years

“Irene Vilar worries that her self-described “abortion addiction” will be misunderstood, twisted by the pro-life movement to deny women he right to choose.

“Her book, ‘Impossible Motherhood,’ which will be released by Other Press on Oct. 6, chronicles her own dark choices: 15 abortions in 16 years, much of it as a married woman.

“As press on the book has begun to leak out, Vilar — a literary agent and editor — says she has already sensed ‘an inkling of hatred.'”

If Ms. Villar is sensing “hatred,” I doubt it is coming from anyone in the pro-life movement. After reading the article I am sure many would have the same reaction as me, one of pity for this poor woman who has had a troubled life, compounded by her multiple abortions. There needs to be no “twisting” either, for even though she denies it, her use of abortion as birth control highlights the damages that abortion wreak on women and society. Even the reporter seems aghast, describing her multiple abortions as “dark choices.”

The article also shows the failure of the abortion industry – highlighting what little counseling they do for women after one abortion, let alone multiple. While the abortion industry generally refuses to see an abortion as harmful to a woman’s mental health (let alone the damages it does physically) it is left up to the pro-life movement to pick up the slack by creating programs, like Project Rachel and Silent No More, to counsel woman who have had abortions.

Oddly, the story never explains – perhaps in a bid to get us to buy the book – why she is (was?) a self-professed, “abortion addict.” Nor does the excerpt, although it does reveal this startling teaser:

My own account can’t resolve the moral dilemma of my actions. Yet, I want to understand the spell a pregnant body exercised over me, my flawed desire to become someone, or something else. The diaries I kept guided me. My promise to the reader is to deliver an account of my addiction, a steady flow of unhappiness, the X-ray of a delusion, and ultimately, the redeeming face of motherhood.

. . .

Yes, I was an abortion addict and I do not wish for a scapegoat. Everything can be explained, justified, our last century tells us. Everything maybe, except for the burden of life interrupted that shall die with me.

I must admit, I’m intrigued enough to borrow the book from the library. Clearly, though the press seems bent on promoting her “dark choices” as somehow noble, belying her words are the malevolent twins of grief and pain.

No, Ms. VIlar, no hate mail from us. Instead, we wish you the peace found only in the redemptive blood of Christ. Until that point, rather than rail against the choices made, I would like to seek to understand your addiction and work to prevent others from feeling forced to make the “dark choices” their “abortion addiction” requires of them.

Like her, I am motivated to encourage other women to experience, “the redeeming face of motherhood.”